Soap-press and perforating-labeler.



V. F. CARL.

SOAP PRESS AND PERFORMING LABELER.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1917.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.-

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

V. F. CARL.

SOAP PRESS AND PERFORMING LABELER.

Patented Dec. 30,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N w R Z R 4 M L (I [an I APPLICATION FILED FEB-19,1911.

V. F. CARL.

SOAP PRESS AND PER'FORATING LABELER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I9, 19!?- Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

5 SH EETSSHEET 3.

V. F. CARL.

80M PRESS AND PERFORATI NG LABELER. I APPLLCATIQN FILED FEB. 19, 1912. 1,326,573. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

5 SIHEETS-SHEET 4.

V. F. CARL.

SOAP PRESS AND PERFORMING LABELER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-19,19!!- Patented Dc. 30,1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

IIIH

Hill I H m N l w f Y i I VICTOR F. CARL, or BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOAP-PRESS AND PERFORATING-LABELER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Application'filed February 19, 1917. Serial No. 149,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR F. CARL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brookline, county of Norfolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Soap-Presses and Perforating-La'belers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to presses for forming and shaping cakes of soap or like relatively soft moldable material. According to present practicewhile it is customary among soap manufacturers to impress on all the cakes of soap constituting their output, a distinguishinn' trade-mark or trade-name, as well as usually the name of the manufacturer, heretofore such impression has been merely in relief on the surfaces of the cake or sometimes with the letters cut in, to a small depth. With this kind of marking however as soon as the cake of soap has been used a very little the impression is wholly obliterated so that there is nothing on the cake thereafter to identify it or its source, of manufacture in any way. The prime object of the present invention is to provide means whereby cakes of soap or like material may be provided with a dis- ,tinguishing trade-mark or trade-na1ne 'or other means of identification that will be readily distinguishable and conspicuous until the cake is entirely consumed. To this end I provide an improved press mechanism having associated therewith perforating devices operative preferably from both sides of the caketo cut through to approximately the median planeof the cake the desired distinguishing trade-name or other characterizing mark, andin conjunction therewith provide means for injecting into such cut out'letter recesses a quantity of soap in a relatively fluid condition and of a color con-. trasting with that of the soap of the cake so that upon the solidification of such injected differently colored soap, a permanent distinguishing trade-mark or name is produced extending from the surface of the rake into the median plane thereof. The invention is shown as embodied in a turret type of press mechanism wherein the cakes are automatically transferred" to successive stations, and while in its more comprehensive cmlmdiment as herein described. the in- .of Fig. 2;

vention contemplates the perforating of the cakes and theinjection of liquid soap in the cut out perforations to constitute the distinguishing trade-name or mark, theturret press mechanism to be described may. also be used for pressing and forming the cakes to a finished shape only, if desired. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is afront view of the machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 Fig. 4 is an'enlargcd fragn'ientary detail in horizontal section and showing a plan view of the second station of the press a which the liquid soap is introduced;

Fig. 5 is a' fragmentary detail perspective of one pair of the pressing and perforating dies;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan showing the locking device for the turret on line 66 of Fig. 2; I p

F ig. 7 is a fragmentary side view partly broken away in section showing the second or soap injectin station of the press;

Fig. 8 is a pan view showing the cake of soap as it appears after leaving the first station, 6., after the first pressing operation and with its inclosing box; and

Fig. 9 isa' side view of the finished cake.

The frame work of the machine com- 2, and an overhead frame portion 3. To the base 1 and overhead frame portion 3 are secured opposite brackets 4., 4 and in these is fixed an upright column 5 which holds for rotation a turret 6.- The turret 6 is formed with a series of spaced apart seats 7 to receive boxes 8, these boxes being shown as angular in form and constituting soap holders .in the press ng operation. Any suitable number of these seats 7 and hold ing boxes 8 may be provided in the turret, four of these being shown, this, number corresponding with the number of stations for the operations to be described and the turret being rotated with an intermittent move IHOHC a quarter turn at each step. Any suitable means may be provided for imparting this rotation to the turret but as shown it prises a base 1, a set of upright standards isprovided with a toothed periphery 9, the

teeth of the mutilated gear 12 engage the teeth being shown as ordinary gear teeth which are engaged at intervals by the teeth of a mutilated gear 10 fixed on an upright shaft 11 journaled at its ends in suitable sleeve bearings secured, to the frame members 1, 3. The shaft 11 has a gear 12 fixed thereon which in turn is driven by a pinion 13 fixed on an upright shaft 14 journaled at its ends in the frame membersl, 3, this shaft having fixed thereon a drive pulley 15 and constituting the prime drive shaft of the machine. It will be understood that the mutilated gear 12 will be provided with series of teeth sufficient in extent to turn the turret 6 a one quarter revolution at each movement thereof, with alternating blank space allowing .the turret an intervening dwell between movements for the operations to be described. For stopping the turret and holding it in definite position at these successive dwells it is provided with a series of stop projections 16 engageableby a stop bar 17 which is pivoted at 18 to a horizontal member 19 of the frame work, this stop bar projecting beyond its pivot point as shown at 17 to constitute a lever, the extremity of which is provided with a roll 20 engageable by a face .cam 21 fixed to the shaft 11, the configuration of this cam being such as to cause the bar 17 to beswung downward just as the turret comes to the end of one of its intermittent movements, and permitting said bar to swing up under the action of a spring 22 just before the teeth of the turret to start the rotation thereof. 1

Each of the soap holders 8 which are fitted in the turret seat 7 may be of a size to hold any desired number and size of cakes to be handled by the machine. As shown each holder 8 is adapted to receive two cakes of soap, for this-purpose being divided into two compartments by a partition 8?. The holders 8 and the compartments into which they are divided are as shown rectangular in shape and the holders are open at top and bottom to permit the operation of the forming dies to be presently described, the holders engaging only edge portions of the soap cake as will be better understood later. The forming dies to act 'upon the soap cake from top andbottom are carried by die heads, the upper.head being indicated at 23 and the lower die head 24. These die heads are periodically moved toward each other for shaping the soap cakes, each die head having for this purpose similar operating mechanism consisting in: a cam 25 fixed on a shaft 26 suitably journaled in bracket mountings 27 of the frame, these shafts being rotated by a chain' and sprocket drive 28 from a shaft 29, journaled in a suitable bracket bearing 30 of the frame and driven by spiral gearing 31 from the shaft 11. The lower die head 24 will be held against its cam 25 by gravity while suitable tension springs 32 anchored to the frame are provided for holding the shown as forks 34 extending from the respective die heads and engaging the shafts 26. Since for the sequence of operations'to be described it is essential that the forming .dies 33 of the die heads be moved to extend some little within the plane of the turret, 2'. e., into the holders 8 to position the cake and for the forming operations, it isessential that at one station of the machine where the pieces of soap are to be fed in,

that at least one of the dies be moved back from the plane of the turret enough so that the pieces of soapmay be readily inserted so as to be positioned in the holders. Va-

rious expedients may be resorted to for this purpose but preferably and as herein shown at the feeding station, designated A, I form the lower die inthe die head 2 as a separate element 35 fitted to slide vertically in Ways of the die head and acted on by a lever 36 pivoted at 31 to the die head, a proj ection of said leverbeyond said pivot being connected to a rod 38 anchored to the frame base of the machine. The pieces of soap in the rough, to be formed into cakes may be deposited on the die 35 thus lowered at the station A either by hand or by any suitable automatic feed (not shown). As the turret comes to rest, the die heads 23, 24 are moved toward each other under the action of the cam 25 thus moving the pieces of soap fed in and lying in the die cavities of the dief35, up into'the then registering compartments 8 of the then interposed holder 8 and by the co action of the die 35 with the opposing die 33 vof the upper die holder roughly shaping the cake and canslng its peripheral edge .to be pressed against the walls of the compartment 8. There upon as the dies are presently opened as Ill permitted by the receding portions 25 of i the cams 25, the turret-is advanced a quarter revolution in a clockwisejdirec'tion as seen in Fig. 3. The cakes of soap in the compartments of the holder being thus located at the second station designated B of the machine are pressed into shape by one of the sets of the oppositely acting forming dies designated 33*. At this station I also provide means for perforating the cake with characters to constitute a trade-name or trademark or the like and for injecting liqresilient pressing action.

' intervals.

uid, or relative] fluid soap into such perforations to fill t e same. For this purpose I provide perforating dies 39 fitted in one or both of the die' heads 23, 24 to slide through apertures formed therefor in the forming dies 33". While only one perforating die 39 may be employed to act on a soap cake from one side, I preferably, and as shown, employ opplositely acting perforating dies to act on t sides, such perforating dies however, as hereinafter explained, being usually formed with diverse characteristics. These perforating dies are actuated by cams 40 fixed on the shafts 26 to h eriodically press said dies toward each 6 er and intocontact with a laterally moving blade at the center of the soap cake as now to be explained. Since it is'desirable that these perforating dies be held pressed against such blade for a brief interval I provide springs 41 interposed between the cam 40 and the heads 42 of the dies 39 to provide a degree of For introducing the liquidsoa at the roots or bases of the perforations t us formed by the action of the perforating dies 39 I provide nozzles 43, 43 arranged in airs or sets to inject soap into the respective cakes of a holder, this pair or set of nozzles being supplied from a common tube or flexible conduit 4-4, and it being understood that the number of nozzles in such set will correspond with the number of compartments in each of the holders 8 as the machine may be constructed. The nozzles 43, 43 each'has a nose 45 adapted to be projected through a hole 46 of the holder 8 into contact with the edge of the soap cake substantially at the median plane thereof. The set of nozzles 43, 43 are connected to and carried by a slide 47 that is guided to slide endwise on a bar.

48 fixed to and extending radially from the fixed central column or shaft 5, the end portion of said bar being provided for this purpose with suitable overhanging bearing clips 49. The conduit 44 is connected with a suitable source of liquid soap supply under pressure this bein shown as an overhead tank 50 and suitable means is rovided for moving the nozzles outwardly into contact with the soap cakes at the proper For this purpose an inner curved end 47 of the slide 47 is held in engagement with an intermittently moving disk 500-by means of atension spring 51 engaging said slide at one end and having its other end anchored to the central column. The disk 500 has a socket or concave seat 52 formed therein into which the slide end 47 is adapted to fit and when in this position as held by the spring 51 the nozzles 43 are withdrawn out of the holder v8. For periodically turning the disk 500 so as to operate the slide and press the nozzles out e cake from both.

of the stub shaft 53 beneath the bar 48.

ward, said disk is fixed on a short shaft 53 journaled in the bar 48 and having rigid and concentric therewith a pinion 54 engageable by a gear 55 fixed at the lower end of a vertical shaft 56. The shaft 56 is journaled and also held from endwise moveing journaled in a bracket 58 fitted on the upper shaft 26 and held from rotary or sliding movement by a downward projection 58 fitting through an opening therefor in the head 23. The pinion 57 is driven by a bevel gear from upper shaft 26, this set of gears in conjunction with the gear pair 54, 55 being so proportioned as to impart one complete rotation to the shaft 53 while the die head '23 is down, (a, while the gears 54, 55 are in mesh, this being accomplished as shown by a one quarter rotation of the shaft 26. Cooperative with the respective nozzles 43, 43, are a set of perforating blades 59, 59, these blades being joined at their rear portions in a single web 60, it being understood that this arrangement may be carried out for any number of blades that may be employed for the required number of nozzles, as determined by the number of soap cake holding compartments in each holder 8 to make of such'set J of blades a single operative unit. The connecting web 60 of these perforating blades is formed with a long transverse slot 61 in which operates a pin 62 carried by a relatively large disk 63 fixed on the lower 62d T e arrangement of the slot 61 and pin 62 with respect to the cam recess 52 of the disk 500 is such that -'ivl1en the. nozzles 43 are retracted by the positioning of the slide end 47 in such cam recess, at the completion of an operative movement, the slides 59 are in an intermediate position, where they extend substantially to the discharge end of slides fit therein closely and thus serve as valves to prevent the outflow of the liquid soap. At the beginning of an operative movement the nozzles are first moved against the end of the respective soap cakes by the action of the disk 000 on the slide 4? and at the same time. the blades 59 are advanced by the action of the )in 62 in the slot 61. This advancing of the blades 59 continues after the movement of the nozzle stops and the blades are thus pressed through the median plane of the soap cake to a point well beyond the center thereof, and as far as the proposed trade-mark or '5 trade-name is to extend along the cake. Thereupon by the described mechanism the perforating dies 39 are moved in to cut the desired letter or mark perforations in the sides of the cakes, these dies being pressed.

'10 through until they engage the sides of the blades 59 against which they press with a degree of resilient pressure as imparted by the sprin s 41. Thereupon, further movement of t e pin 62 on disk 63 will'retract the blades 59not only out of the soap cake but also within the-nozzles 43, and finally into an enlarged intermediate section 43 thereof where ,the discharge end of these nozzles. is thus opened, while such nozzles are still held pressed against the end of the soap cake. The liquid soap under pressure from the conduit 44 is now permitted to flow* freely into the passages made by the blades 59, 59 and as the perforating dies 39 are at this-time moved backward, the cams 40 being for this purpose of relatively short extent, the liquid soap is permitted to fill up into the interstices and cut out spaces made by. the perforating dies, this action being facilitated by the suction caused by' withdrawal of said dies out of the soap cake, this insuring a complete filling in of such letter or trade-mark spaces with the liquid soap. The final movement of the blades 59 under action of the pin 62, just before the pinion 54 is disengaged is again forward so that as the nozzles 43 are then retracted, the

ends of said blades will again fill the dis-- charge end of the nozzles and stop the outflow of soap. It is-to be understood that in practice this liquidglsoap will be preferably of a color contrasting sharply, yet attractively, with that of the body of the cake, thus making at the same timea soap cake '45 of pleasing appearance and one in which the trade-mark or the name of the manufacturer or both will be conspicuously dis-. played to the user on one orboth sides of the cake throughout the 'period of use of the cake .and until it isentirely consumed. It will be understood that the liquid soap thus injected will be rendered only sufficiently fluid so as to be capable of being in jected into the soap cake in the manner described. It may be thus rendered fluid or semi-fluid in any suitable known manner.

with or without the application of heat, so

as to set and become solid to the extent required as soon as necessary after being injerited into the cut out letter space of the ca re.

The cakes of soap in the holder thus perforated and marked are now released by the opening of the dies 33" and the soap cakes held at their peripheral edges in the holders desired delivery point. W

cakes this is to be understood as merely an 8 are transferred by the next'movement of the tu rret to the next station designated 0 p where they are operated on by the finishing dies 33 carried by the upper and lower die heads 23, 24 respectively. These dies reshape and finish the soap cakes, and if desiredmay be'so formed as to make the contrasting color of the injected soap stand out more conspicuously. Thereupon upon the release of the cakes by these dies and an- 15 aifroll 65 journaled to the frame work adapted to carry off the discharged cakes to any ile the machine is herein described as for handling soap illustrative use and the machine is also adapted and designed for use in' pressing and marking with a non-obliteratable trade- .mark any relatively soft of moldable material having characteristics more or less like those of ordinary toilet or household soap.

It is also to be understood that while the usual oval form of soap cake is herein shown, that with obvious and easily understood modifications of the dies and immediate operating parts, the machine can equally as well handle any other desired shape of cakes or character of trade-mark or tradename to be applied thereto. While the several holders 8 are herein shown as formed 105 with only two compartments and the mechanism hence provided to operate on only two cakes at each station, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates a greatly extended range of capacity for these hold- "ers whendesired, so that each-holder may have a large number of compartments to hold for operation a considerable number of cakes at once with of course a corresponding and readily understood multiplication 11: of operating devices, the present smaller number being shown for simplicity of illustration and readier understanding of the principles involved. I desire it also to be understood that the described mechanism with slight modification may if desired be used merely for pressing and shaping soap cakes without the perforating and labeling mechanism. When so used the station designated A may bea feeding and pressing sta- 1 tion, the station B a discharge station, the station C a feeding and pressing station, and the station D a discharge station. I therefore desire the present embodiment in these aswell as other respects to be consid- 13 ered as illustrative and not restrictive and refer to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the tics, and means for filling the spaces of such perforations with material in a relatively fluid condition including a device "for forming a lateral channel intersecting the bases of such perforations.

2. A machine of the kind described, comprising mold for holding cakes of soap or like, mounted and connected for step by step movement, means for producing perforations with distinguishin characteristics in a cake of soap or the li e to a substantial depth therein, means for forming a, channel through the soap cake transverse of suchperforations and intersecting the same, and means for introducing liquid soap into such perforations through said channel including an automatically, movable valve controlled nozzle having a range of movement inward to connect with such channel and outward to clear the cake. I 3. A machine of the kind described, comprising press mechanism rot-,arily movable step by step for moldin a cake of soap or the like, means for pro ucing perforations with distinguishing characteristics extending from the surface substantially to a nie- (lian plane of the cake while held in said press mechanism, means for producing a channel intersecting said perforations at the bases thereof, and means for injecting liquid filling material through said channel to fill said perforations.

4. A machine of the kind described, comprising means for producin erforations with distin uishing characteristics in a cake of soap or t e like from opposite sides thereof to points approaching the median plane of the cake, means for producing a channel extending transversely of such perforations and intersecting the same at the bases thereof, and means for introducing liquid filling material into said channel to fill said perforation spaces.

5. A machine of the kind described, comprising press mechanism for molding a cake of soap or the like, mounted and connected for step by step rotary movement, means associated therewith for producing. perforations with distinguishing characteristics extending from the outside to near a median plane of the soap cake, means for producin a channel in the sea cake transversely 0 said perforations an intersecting the same at the bases thereof, and means for introducthe cake is held in said second ing liquid soap into said channel to fill said perforations while the cake is still held in said press mechanism.

6. A machine of the kind described, comprising press mechanism for molding a soap cake approximately to shape, means for transferring the soap cake to a second station, a second press mechanism operative on the soap cake at said second station, means for producing perforations with distinguishing characteristics in the soap cake at said second station, and means for introducing liquid soap to fill said perforations while nism.

7. A machine of the kind described, comprising press mechanism for molding a cake of sea or the like, having means associated t erewith for producing perforations with distinguishing characteristics extending from the surface of the cake to a substantial depth, with means for introducing liquid soap to fill said perforations, a second press mechanism for molding the cake to finished form, and transfer means for moving the cake from the first named press mechanism to the second named press mechanism.

8. A machine of the kind described, comprising a holder fora soap cake mounted for movement to successive operative stations, said holder formed to leave the soap cake exposed at a side thereof, mechanism atone press mechastation for producing ineradica'ble distinguishing characteristics extending from the surface of the soap cake to a point adjacent a median plane thQIBOflflDCl a press mechanism at a succeeding station for refinishing the soap cake.

9. A machine of the kind described, comrising rotatable turret bearing, a holder or moldable cakes arranged to leave opposite sides of the cake exposed and mounted for movement to successive stations, press mechanism at one of said stations for molding the cake, mechanism at said station for producing ineradicable distinguishing characteristics in the cake extending from the surface to a point adjacent a median plane thereof while held in said press mechanism, and a second press mechanism at a later station ,for re-molding and finishing the cake.

10. A mac ineof the kind described, comprising a unidirectionally movable carrier bearing, a holder for moldable cakes arranged to leave opposite sides of such cakes further molding the cake, and mechanism at the last named-station for producingineradicable distinguishing characteristics in the cake extending from the surface to a substantial depth, and constituting a component part of {the material of the cake.

11. A machine of the kind described,comprising a holder for moldable cakes arranged to leave opposite sides of such cakes exposed, said holder mounted for movement to successive stations, press mechanism at one of said stations for locating and preliminarily molding a cake in said holder, a second press mechanism at a later station for further IIlOldiILg the cake, mechanism at the last named station for producing ineradicable distinguishing characteristics in the cake extending from the surface to a substantial depth, and constituting a component part of the material ofthe cake, a third press mechanism at a still later station for remolding and finishing the cake, and means operative at a fourth station for ejecting the cake from said holder.

12. A machine of the kind described, comprising a holder for moldable cakes arranged to leave opposite sides of such cakes exposed, a turretmounted and connected for intermittent rotary movement and bearing said holder to successive stations, press mechanism at one of said stations for locating and preliminarily Inolding a cake in said holder, a second press mechanism at a later station for further molding the cake, and mecha-' nism at the last named station for producmg ineradicable distinguishing characteristics in thecake extending from the surface to a substantial depth, and constituting a component part of the material of the cake.

13. A machine of the kind described, comprising means for confining a cake of moldable material, means for perforating the cake with perforations to a substantial depth, and means for injecting liquid filling material to fill such perforations, said means consisting in a nozzle mounted for movement up to the cake while so confined, and a perforating blade cooperative with said nozzle and mounted to perforate the cake in a plane transverse of and tions.

14. A machine of the kind described, comprising means for confining a cake of mold- I nozzle to perforate the cake in 'adirection able material, means for perforatin the cake with perforations to a substantial epth,'and means for injecting liquid filling material to fill such perforations, said means consisting in a nozzle mounted for movement u to the cake While so confined, and a pc orating blade mounted and connected for movement in timed relation to the movements, of said transverse of said first named perforations intersecting said perfora-' from opposite sides thereof, means for perforating said cake from opposite sides to a point ad acent a median plane of the cake with distinguishing characteristics, and

cake with distinguishing characteristics, and

means for filling said perforations consisting in a nozzle mounted and connected for movement up to and away from the cake,

and a perforating blade cooperative with said nozzle and connected to be moved for perforating the cake in a median plane thereof, transverse of the first named perforations to connect therewith, said blade having a slidable fitting through saidmozzle and serving as a valve to control the flow ofliquid filling material therefrom.

1-7. In a machine of the kind described, a

pair'of dies mounted for opposing action to confine a soap cake therebetween, perforating dies slidably fitted through said confining dies and formed to produce perforations in the cake confined of a distinguishing character and extending to near the median plane of the cake, and means for injecting liquid material to fill such per.-

forations consisting in a nozzle having con .nection with a source of liquid material and intersecting the same, said perforating blade fitted in said nozzle and cooperative therewith to constitute a valve therefor to control the flow of filling material therefrom.

15. In a machine of the kind described,

press mechanism forconfininga cake of soap under sociate I pass through the soap cake intersecting the first named perforations.

18. In a machine of the kind described, a

pair of dies mountedfor opposing action to confine a soap cake therebetween, perforating dies slidably fitted through said confinressure, and a perforating blade as dwith said nozzle and movable to 19. A machine of the kind described, comprising a turret mounted and having operative connections to receive intermittent rotary movement, a plurality of holders for cakes of soap or the like carried by said turret and presenting a side of the cakes exposed, means for molding the cakes in said holders, and means operative at one station of said turret for producing ineradicable distinguishing characteristics in the soap cake, said means consisting in a perforating die mounted and connected to be moved for perforating the soap cake to a substantial depth and a nozzle having a perforating blade associated therewith connected for intermittent movement whereby said blade first perforates the cake in a direction trans- V verse of the first named perforations and intersecting the same, and thereafter said nozzle is moved to deliver liquid soap to fill said In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

VICTOR F. CARL. 

